Indiana University
16-11,7-9Big Ten
Purdue
19-9,11-6Big Ten
Hoosiers Handle Boilermakers
2/23/2025 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Guard Myles Rice was a defensive beast -- physical, swarming, relentless on a nationally televised basketball stage.
Purdue paid the price.
All the Indiana Hoosiers defended as if their next five meals -- certainly their postseason prospects -- depended on it Sunday afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The No. 13/14 Boilers paid the price.
A second-half start for the ages, full of ruthless Hoosier defense and crisp offense, wiped out a 12-point deficit and delivered a 73-58 victory.
"They refused to lose," coach Mike Woodson said. "They did everything from a defensive standpoint that we worked on."
IU's 28-3 run in the opening 10 minutes turned a 12-point deficit to a 13-point lead and delivered control the Hoosiers (16-11 overall, 7-9 in the Big Ten) never lost. They won the second half 48-21.
"We competed this week (in practice)," said guard Trey Galloway, who just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine assists. "We got after each other. We're not satisfied where we're at.
"If we continue to keep fighting, everything will pay off. It did today. We have to keep moving forward."
IU came in reeling with six losses in its last seven games. An eight-day break since the UCLA defeat provided plenty of time for reflection and preparation.
"The message was to win," forward Malik Reneau said. "We knew this was a must-win game. Everybody had that feeling. When we got down at halftime, it was the same thing. We put it all on the floor and you saw the result."
The aftermath left players -- led by Galloway, Reneau and guard Anthony Leal -- swarming the retiring Woodson for a Branch McCracken Court celebration.
"It means a lot," Woodson said. "Anthony and Gallo and Malik have been around me the longest. They know what I'm about. It was special. I do love them. I'm sure they love me, as well."
Rice helped make Purdue's Braden Smith, one of the Big Ten's best point guards, look ordinary. Smith had eight points and six turnovers, five in the second half.
"It started with Myles and his ball pressure," Galloway said. "He set the tone in the second half and we followed his lead."
Rice, in his first IU season after transferring from Washington State, totaled 12 points, including a second-half opening 3-pointer that set the team's 64-percent-shooting offensive effort over the final 20 minutes.
"That's the best he's played since he's been here," Woodson said. "We had a few bodies guarding Smith. You can't just play him with one guy. He's a tough guard. He makes plays. Myles did a tremendous job in guarding him."
Then there was Reneau surpassing 1,000 career points with his 15-point effort on 7-for-7 shooting. He's the 55th Hoosier to do so.
"It's super special," he said. "It's a big moment for me."
Added Woodson: "He's been a solid player. Reaching 1,000 points is special. If he continues to work and stay healthy, he'll continue to do some wonderful things."
Purdue (19-9, 11-6) arrived vulnerable from a three-game losing streak. The Hoosiers had inspiration from last month's five-point near miss at Mackey Arena and motivation from a final two-week regular-season stretch rich in possibilities, starting with Wednesday's home game against Penn State.
Then there was the rivalry factor. Woodson is 4-4 in his Purdue coaching battles. The Boilers ended his college playing career in the 1980 Sweet Sixteen.
"It's always special when you beat Purdue," he said. "We had battles when I played here. All the games are tough.
"They were the better team in the first half. In the second half, we were."
Added Galloway: "We know how much this means to Coach and all of us. Everyone knows about the rivalry. It's a blessing to be part of it. It's cool for Coach to get this, but for everybody, it's special."
Adding to the rivalry intensity, and acknowledging the 40th anniversary of the famous Bob Knight-chair-throwing incident, Woodson sat on one of the original Assembly Hall bench chairs during the game. While there remains debate on what happened to the chair, Woodson insisted it's the one Knight threw.
"That is the chair," Woodson said. "I've had it for a while. Scott Greer, the tennis coach at the time, was the only one thinking out of the box. The next day he got the chair. He had (IU track coach) Sam Bell, (soccer coach) Jerry Yeagley, (swim coach) Doc Counsilman and Coach Knight to sign off on it. They took pictures. He passed away a year ago, and I happened to get my hands on it."
He paused for a smile.
"I wasn't going to throw the chair. I did want to sit on it."
IU thrived despite going just 4-for-19 on 3-pointers. It had a 44-18 edge in points in the paint that included making 15 of 17 layups.
"I'm happy as hell," Woodson said.
An intense opening few minutes had both teams start 1-for-5 from the field. A Luke Goode 3-pointer off a Galloway assist and a Leal layup pushed IU ahead 11-6. A Galloway drive and lob for a center Oumar Ballo dunk made it 13-8 six minutes into the game.
IU's 10-5 rebounding edge and 14-8 points-in-the-paint advantage delivered a 19-13 lead at the 11:19 mark. Purdue surged ahead 28-21 on a 12-0 run with 4:46 left. It reached halftime with a 37-25 lead. Reneau led with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting and five rebounds.
Rice started the second half with a 3-pointer off a Galloway assist. Galloway quickly followed with a dunk. Leal had a layup seconds later. In 79 seconds, the lead was down to 37-32.
IU forced a shot-clock violation. Goode followed with a 3-pointer. Reneau dunked. The game was tied at 39-39.
Then the onslaught really began. Goode, Rice and Reneau led the offensive way. All the Hoosiers dialed in on defense.
By the 11:56 mark, IU led 53-40 and was in full domination mode. Leal, Ballo, Galloway and Rice scored. The lead swelled to 16 with six minutes left.
When Purdue closed within 10 in the closing minutes, Galloway drove for a pass and a Ballo dunk, then hit a 3-pointer, then made a pair of free throws to clinch it.
A few minutes later, Hoosier players had their group hug with Woodson.
"We're a family," Galloway said. "Through the highs and lows we have to stick together. We still have a chance to compete and make the (NCAA) Tournament. We have to rally around each other.
"We're all playing for each other. We're all in it together. We want to make it special for him and for everybody. We have a chance to really keep competing and put ourselves in the right (postseason) position."
